The art of gathering: how we meet and why it matters - priya parker

Hosts of all kinds, this is a must-read --Chris Anderson, owner and curator of TED From the host of the New York Times podcast Together Apart , an exciting new approach to how we gather that will transform the ways we spend our time together--at home, at work, in our communities, and beyond.

In The Art of Gathering , Priya Parker argues that the gatherings in our lives are lackluster and unproductive--which they dont have to be.

We rely too much on routine and the conventions of gatherings when we should focus on distinctiveness and the people involved.

At a time when coming together is more important than ever, Parker sets forth a human-centered approach to gathering that will help everyone create meaningful, memorable experiences, large and small, for work and for play.

Drawing on her expertise as a facilitator of high-powered gatherings around the world, Parker takes us inside events of all kinds to show what works, what doesnt, and why.

She investigates a wide array of gatherings--conferences, meetings, a courtroom, a flash-mob party, an Arab-Israeli summer camp--and explains how simple, specific changes can invigorate any group experience.

The result is a book thats both journey and guide, full of exciting ideas with real-world applications.

The Art of Gathering will forever alter the way you look at your next meeting, industry conference, dinner party, and backyard barbecue--and how you host and attend them.